“A leaked recording of Jeremy Corbyn suggests he believes Labour officials have either lost mislaid or ignored evidence of anti-semitism in the party. His words were secretly taped in February, as Labour struggled to cope with the number of anti-semitism complaints made against its members. The recording was made by the Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge, a fierce critic of Mr Corbyn, during a meeting between the two of them. Part of it has now been released by the Sunday Times.”

“Rows about anti-semitism have dogged Jeremy Corbyn for much of his time as Labour’s leader. It’s been the problem that will not go away. He has faced, and continues to face, stinging criticism from within his own party and from his own MPs about his handling of the issue”

“The former Labour Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, says anti-semitism is an existential crisis for the Labour Party. He’s been asked to review the problems with anti-semitism within the party, but just as he was about to take up the role last week, the Equaltiies and Human Rights Commission, the EHRC, announced that it believed Labour may have unlawfully discriminated against people because of their ethnicity and religious beliefs, and it’s considering a full investigation. Lord Falconer told me their investigation should take precedence, and not operate in parallel to his, he could then take up a longer-term role after they finish.”

“Is Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership at risk of becoming in serious jeopardy because of the ongoing anti-semitism crisis rocking the top of the Labour Party? It was another torrid day for the Labour leader, beginning with the Labour MP Margaret Hodge’s claims that she’d been misled over assurances that his office was not involved in any disciplinary process over allegations of anti-semitism …”

this afternoon (tuesday 5th), 5.03-5.04pm and 6.08-6.11pm, on bbc radio 4pm (presented by evan davis) and six o’clock news include …

“Labour’s plan to appoint Lord Falconer to head an investigation into anti-semitism in the party is facing mounting opposition from its leading Jewish MPs. They’ve warned that any inquiry led by the former Lord Chancellor could be a fiasco, and invite allegations of a whitewash because he’s not from outside the party.”

this afternoon (tuesday 5th), 1.01-1.02pm, and 1.07-1.14pm, on bbc radio 4world at one (presented by sarah montague) includes …

“It’s no secret that he was a senior member of the Communist Party, and was a fervent believer in that route to socialism as he saw it … if he still holds them I think he should be in the Communist Party rather than in the Labour Party.”